Schoology is a web-based Learning Management System (LMS) used for managing classroom instruction and activities on one platform. Users, which include teachers, parents, and students, can access Schoology anywhere and at any time through the LMSs website and Android, Chrome, and IOS apps.
On Schoology, teachers can share learning materials with students, collect student work, create and grade assessments, track student performance, communicate with students, and manage the classroom efficiently and effectively. The LMS is also designed for students to be able to interact with one another and for parents and/or guardians to monitor the progress of their groups.
Teaching with Schoology requires that teachers create accounts to login and access Schoology’s functionalities. Schoology can be used to create courses, upload instructional materials, create groups, manage assessments, and communicate with students.
Class ManagementSchoology allows teachers to manage all class-related elements on one platform. Teachers can create self-paced learning modules, digital playlists, or learning paths that open and close upon student completion, giving students true personalized instruction to work at their own pace. This provides more time for the teacher to facilitate instruction and meet students individually.
Communication and EngagementSchoology’s Groups feature makes it possible for teachers to share ideas, resources, and connect with students, their families, and other stakeholders. Additionally, teachers can use group messages to send a Schoology message to all students in the course or a specific group.
Instructional ContentTeachers can either create new instructional content or view and manage existing content. Additionally, Schoology allows teachers to analyze information about students’ academic performance, which can inform their decisions on what areas of instruction to address.
DifferentiationSchoology gives students flexibility in accessing and completing assignments. The flexibility in accessing instructional content and activities is especially useful for unforeseen circumstances that students may encounter.
Creativity and InnovationSchoology’s improved integration with Google and Microsoft opens new doors for creating a more engaging curriculum that fits with tools teachers already use. Google Slides or Docs can be attached or embedded into a class page. Schoology even creates a unique copy for each individual as they open the assignment link. Additionally, teachers can integrate external applications such as One Drive and Turnitin.
AssessmentTeachers can create assessments and track student performance using Schoology’s built-in gradebook. Teachers can also align objectives to each question or assessment or even to an entire course to track student mastery. Assignments can be set for automatic grading, or rubrics can be created for more detailed feedback.Schoology provides 18 assessment question types, including uploading audio or video as well as highlighting and labeling images.
Video ConferencingTeachers can use Schoology Conferences by BigBlueButton to do virtual office hours, group collaborations, and full synchronous classes. Using the Conferences app, course and group admins can create, plan, and hold live audio and video conferences with up to 100 participants (up to 25 participants for Free Tier users).
Schoology is a web-based Learning Management System (LMS) which provides a full suite of learning management tools. The LMS utilizes built-in Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI) integration, which allows users to install a variety of web and mobile applications from their application center. These applications include Google Workspace, Microsoft Office 365, Turnitin, Respondus, Quizlet, Playposit, and more. Schoology also has features that allow students to complete and respond to discussions in the way they are most comfortable: text, voice, or video.
Schoology complies with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, is compatible with assistive technologies, and does not interfere with accessibility features of other products, operating systems, or browser shortcuts. Teachers can also use Schoology to tailor instruction or build a learning sequence specifically for students with Individual education Plans (IEPs, Individualized Learning Plans (ILPs), 504 plans, and services for gifted students.
In terms of privacy, Schoology offers flexibility in how users can control who sees what content, but the configuration options should be reviewed to ensure that visibility settings align with community norms and expectations. Additionally, students of any age cannot share their profiles publicly outside of their classroom or school.
Schoology requires schools, districts, or teachers (on behalf of the parents or legal guardians of students under the age of 13) to provide consent for the online collection of personal information of the student under the age of 13 through Schoology. In order to register to use Schoology, students must use an access code provided to them by the teacher.